Portable tone decoder-encoder system

ABSTRACT

A portable tone decoder-encoder receiver and transmitter device wherein a radio network is contained in a housing and is operatively connected to a touch-tone pad also within the housing. A pivoted hollow handle is connected to the housing and this handle contains a releasably positioned transmitter and receiver handset and an antenna, both being operatively connected to the network. The handle may be moved from a carrying position to an operative position, and, when in carrying position is releasably locked to the housing.

United States Patent [191 Blough [451 July 16, 1974 PORTABLE TONEDECODER-ENCODER SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Roger D. Blough, Willow Grove, Pa.

[73] Assignee: International Mobile Machines Corporation, Philadelphia,Pa.

22 Filed: Jan. 4, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 320,892

[52] US. Cl 325/16, 325/l l 1, 325/119, 325/352, 325/361, 179/41 A [51]Int. Cl. H04b 1/38 [58] Field of Search 325/16, 21, 25, 361, 352,325/l1l, l19; l79/4l A, 1 PC, 1 C, 2 DP, 84 VF, 841, 2 C; 343/l75, 177,180, 181

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Spraker 179/1 C Buehrle325/16 Kehl 325/l6 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Mayer Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Arthur A, Jacobs, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A portable tone decoder-encoder receiver and transmitterdevice wherein a radio network is contained in a housing and isoperatively connected to a touch-tone pad also within the housing. Apivoted hollow handle is connected to the housing and this handlecontains a releasably positioned transmitter and receiver handset and anantenna, both being operatively connected to the network. The handle maybe moved from a carrying position to an operative position, and, when incarrying position is releasably locked to the housing.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 PORTABLE TONE DECODER-ENCODER SYSTEM Thisinvention relates to a portable tone decoderencoder receiver andtransmitter device, and it particularly relates to a device of theaforesaid type embodying a duplex system.

Tone receiver and transmitter systems have heretofore generally beenembodied in relatively large, bulky devices which had to be built into astation or vehicle or had to be carted to the position where it was tobe used. This severely limited the utility of the device for personaluse.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the abovedisadvantages by providing a tone decoder of the duplex type which iscompact, relatively light in weight and adapted for easy carrying by theuser either when traveling, visiting, at the beach or any other placewhere the user may be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of theaforesaid type which is relatively simple in construction andinexpensive to produce.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away of a portable tonedecoder device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing thehandle in retracted position.

Referring now in greater detail to the figures of the drawing whereinsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown inFIG. 1 a tone decoderencoder device, generally designated 10, comprisinga housing 12 and a handle 14. The handle 14 is pivoted to one end of thehousing as at 16, whereby the handle may be hingedly moved from theclosed position shown in FIG. 1 to the open position shown in FIG. 2. Alatch 18 is provided, this latch serving to automatically lock thehandle in the closed position but being easily releasable to permit thehandle to be moved into the open position.

Within the housing 12 is a shelf 20 which supports a touch-tone orpush-button pad 22. The pad 22 is of the standard telephone touch-tonetype having a specific number of push-buttons 24. Each push-button 24corresponds to a digit and each digit is correlated with a combinationof two particular radio frequencies which are adapted to be sensed by adata network at a base station where the frequencies are separated todecode the dialed message, the term dialed" being used to denote theoperation of the touch-tone pad. When the base station receives a codedrequest for information from the device 10, it transmits the request toa data storage means such as a computer, and then transmits theinformation in coded form back to the device 10, where it is received,automatically decoded and passed to the user by audio means.

Below the shelf 20 is an encoder-decoder radio network that is generallydesignated 26. No attempt is here made to describe this network in anydetail because the network, per se, forms no part of the presentinvention except in the disclosed combination. However, it does includea duplexer usually consisting of a set of tuned cavities that arecapable of passing the receiver frequency through the unit and, at thesame time, permitting the transmitter frequency to pass through.

The handle 14 is hollow and encased within it is a standardtelephone-type handset 28, including a radio frequency receiver portion30 and a radio frequency transmitter portion 32. The handset isreleasably held within the handle 14 by a clip 34. When held by theclip, the handset pushes the switchbutton 36 inwardly to maintain thenormally closed switch open and the system inactive. When the handset isremoved from the clip 34, it releases the button 36 to close the switchand activate the system.

The network 26 is connected to the handset by a flexible cable 38 whichcontains both the line leading from the receiver circuit to the receiverportion 30 and the line leading from the transmitter portion of thenetwork to the transmitter portion 32, in the same manner as a standardtelephone device.

The handle 14 is also provided with an antenna 40, this antenna beingconnected to the network 26 by a flexible cable 42. The antenna isautomatically placed in fully operative position 'when the handle l4isin the open position as shown in FIG. 2.

The above description clearly shows that the device comprises aself-contained unitconstituting its own carrying case. When the handleis closed, it can be conveniently carried like a suitcase or abriefcase. When it is to be used, it is merely necessary to pull thehandle up and the device is ready for instant use.

The invention claimed is:

l. A portable receiver and transmitter structural unit comprising ahousing having an open side, a receiver and transmitter radio networkwithin said housing, a touch tone pad in said housing operativelyconnected to said network, and a handle connected to said housing, saidhandle being hollow and having an open side, said handle being pivotallyconnected at one end thereof to said housing to permit pivotal movementof said handle into and out of closed position relative to said openside of said housing, said open side of said I handle being in matingrelationship with said open side of said housing when said handle is insaid closed position, said handle having a latch means at the oppositeend thereof, said latch means being in releasably latched engagementwith said housing when said handle is in said closed position, and areceiver and transmitter handset releasably positioned within saidhollow handle, said handset being insertable and removable into and outof said hollow handle through said open side of said handle.

' 2. The device of claim 1 wherein a radio-wave antenna is positioned insaid handle and is operatively connected to said network.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a switch is provided in said handle,said switch being operatively connected to said network and beingnormally closed, and saidv handset being arranged to open said switch bycontact therewith when said handset is positioned within said handle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,824,465 Dated J ly 15, 1974 Inventor(s) Roger D. Blouch It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The name of the inventor is Roger D. Blouch.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Qfficer C'. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner ofPatents FORM powso (m'es) uscoMM-Dc soars-P69 ".5. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE 2 969 0-366'334

1. A portable receiver and transmitter structural unit comprising ahousing having an open side, a receiver and transmitter radio networkwithin said housing, a touch tone pad in said housing operativelyconnected to said network, and a handle connected to said housing, saidhandle being hollow and having an open side, said handle being pivotallyconnected at one end thereof to said housing to permit pivotal movementof said handle into and out of closed position relative to said openside of said housing, said open side of said handle being in matingrelationship with said open side of said housing when said handle is insaid closed position, said handle having a latch means at the oppositeend thereof, said latch means being in releasably latched engagementwith said housing when said handle is in said closed position, and areceiver and transmitter handset releasably positioned within saidhollow handle, said handset being insertable and removable into and outof said hollow handle through said open side of said handle.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein a radio-wave antenna is positioned in saidhandle and is operatively connected to said network.
 3. The device ofclaim 1 wherein a switch is provided in said handle, said switch beingoperatively connected to said network and being normally closed, andsaid handset being arranged to open said switch by contact therewithwhen said handset is positioned within said handle.